A Principal's Reflections
FEBRUARY 20, 2011
'I don''t know about all of you, but I am really getting tired about the relentless attacks on teachers as states grapple with their budgets. Are they kidding me? Really, educators and other state workers are to blame for out of control costs and spending? As long as I can remember anyone that went into the field of education was ridiculed for the main reason that the profession makes no money.
The Web20Classroom
JUNE 15, 2011
'The end of the school year is upon us however many are looking forward to next year. You may be thinking what can you do differently next year? How can you stand out above the crowd? How can your school become a larger part of the school community? While Twitter is beginning to catch on with many educators, schools are lagging in their adoption of the platform.
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The 21st Century Principal
OCTOBER 2, 2011
'Ian Jukes, Ted McCain, and Lee Crockett write in their book Understanding the Digital Generation , "Schools have not recognized the changes that have occurred in the world around them and have continued to teach as if it were 1980." In the spirit of David Letterman, here''s my "Top 10 Signs Your Schools Caught in a Time Warp." A list for school administrators. 1.
The Mobile Native
DECEMBER 2, 2011
'QR codes, also known as Quick Response codes, are starting to pop up everywhere, and now they are finding their way into classrooms. Here are some QR code resources and links.
Generative AI holds tremendous promise for all stakeholders in higher education. But guardrails are needed. Strong governance that empower instructors are at the core of a responsible approach to using generative AI in academia.
EdTechSandyK
MAY 14, 2011
'Official Photo of Texas Governor Rick Perry from governor.state.tx.us/about/ Yesterday, I listened to a radio interview Texas Governor Rick Perry did with KRLD 1080 AM radio in Dallas via Scott Braddock''s website. Today, I am writing to say he is wrong about the extent of educator layoffs in Texas and that he is also wrong about the staffing ratio of teachers to administrators in the school districts in our state.
SpeechTechie
OCTOBER 3, 2011
'I am excited to do a few "theme" series on SpeechTechie that will explore topics and strategies in more depth, as I did with Glogster EDU. To that end, over the next month we will be looking at QR Codes, a hot topic and emerging technology in education. What are QR Codes, you ask? Well, you probably have seen them already and wondered, "What the heck are those things???
EdTech Update brings together the best content for education technology professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
wwwatanabe
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
'Several mentioned that even though they knew Bloom''s Taxonomy , they hadn''t put a Bloom''s microscope to their lessons until designing PBL. Once they designed a PBL, they realized a rigor boost in Bloom''s Taxonomy was needed. Some rights reserved by Mantid Man Bloom''s Taxonomy and a Praying Mantis About ten years ago, I had a third grade student bring a praying mantis to our class, and we placed it in a terrarium.
Learning with 'e's
NOVEMBER 24, 2011
What do you think is the teacher's worst enemy? Some would say lack of time. Others would say unsupportive leadership, or the dreaded government inspection. Rigid curriculum, lack of resources and bad student behaviour may also be high on the list for many educators. For me, the worst enemy is bad theory. Bad theory, when accepted without challenge, can lead to bad practice.
The Learning Revolution Has Begun
MAY 21, 2011
'Join me Wednesday, May 25th, for a live and interactive FutureofEducation.com webinar with Sir Ken Robinson about the extensively revised and updated version of his best-selling classic, Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative. We''ll talk about why it is essential to promote creativity, what happens in schools to make us think we are not creative, and what schools and organizations can do to develop creativity and innovation in a deliberate and systematic way.
The Daring Librarian
JUNE 25, 2011
'I was asked recently for a quote by a N.Y. Times editor for their opinion page : Here''s the question: "School librarians are on the chopping block as states and cities seek to cut their education budgets. Do superintendents and principals see librarians as more expendable than other school employees? If so, why?" Here''s my response: "From the Daring Librarian to Teacher Librarians everywhere with love, albeit tough love - but full on love!
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A Principal's Reflections
APRIL 19, 2011
'The other day one of my veteran teachers came to my office to tell me that she had decided to retire. This was a bittersweet moment for me as I highly valued her commitment to the students of New Milford High School and knew I would have a huge void to fill, but was happy to see that she was at peace with her decision. During our conversation she told me how much she appreciated that fact that I never once micromanaged her, which promoted creativity in the classroom.
The Web20Classroom
MARCH 15, 2011
'One question that comes into my inbox or on Twitter a lot lately is one dealing with iPads. Many schools and classrooms all over are investing in these devices and educators want to know how to use them effectively, apps to consider and more. In keeping with the "My Favorite Resources" theme ( last week I listed my favorite resources for talking about Twitter ) here are my go-to resources when people ask me about iPads in the Classroom.
The 21st Century Principal
DECEMBER 15, 2011
'In October, I posted “Top 10 Signs Your School Is Caught in a Time Warp: List for School Leaders.” Of course the whole idea behind that post was to call attention to those leadership proclivities that are actually hindering movement toward a 21st century learning environment. Now, let me be just a bit more direct in this post. Here’s the list of indications that your school leadership is obsolete and in need of a big upgrade. 1.
The Mobile Native
OCTOBER 24, 2011
'Guest Post for BrainPop Mobile Learning Integration via @kylepace If you are looking to integrate iPads and iPods into your classroom curriculum, this is the site for you! It has an entire section of apps that work well in the classroom. It also has user guides, pod casts and a user agreement. Another great aspect of this site is that it highlights tips and tricks for use in the classroom.
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EdTechSandyK
AUGUST 14, 2011
'Summer break is over and schools are starting up again in the U.S. over the next few weeks. As you contemplate the upcoming school year, I want to issue you a challenge. But first, sit back and watch the video I have linked below. Watch it from start to end (six minutes isn''t a lot to ask). Watch even if you''ve seen it before - it''s probably been a while.
SpeechTechie
OCTOBER 6, 2011
'I distinctly remember my first computing experience. My dad, the head of a public school "Library/Media" department, brought home an Apple ][ (2), and I was instantly hooked. The Apple computer offered a relatively user-friendly experience for the early 80s, and I quickly learned how to switch out floppy discs, endure the machine''s unforgiving "BRAAAAAP" sound that occurred when said discs caused an error, and enjoy games such as "Lemonade Stand" and " In Search of the Most Amazing Thing.
The Electric Educator
NOVEMBER 4, 2011
'Mr. Aaron Hammers uses Google Moderator in his 10th Grade Bible class each week. Google Moderator is a simple crowd-sourcing tool that makes it possible to better understand the thoughts, idea, questions, or motivations of a group, crowd, or audience. One of the best things about Google Moderator is that it is simple. There aren''t many buttons to click and it doesn''t overwhelm you with features and options.
wwwatanabe
FEBRUARY 6, 2011
'A project may look appealing, but is it project-based learning? My answer to that without hesitation is no. The focus of a project is the product , while the focus of project-based learning is the learning that occurs through the development of the project. If that just sounds like pitter-patter , then let''s just focus on the quality of the project or project-based learning.
Speaker: Andrew Cohen, Founder & CEO of Brainscape
The instructor’s PPT slides are brilliant. You’ve splurged on the expensive interactive courseware. Student engagement is stellar. So… why are half of your students still forgetting everything they learned in just a matter of weeks? It's likely a matter of cognitive science! With so much material to "teach" these days, we often forget to incorporate key proven principles into our curricula — namely active recall, metacognition, spaced repetition, and interleaving practice.
Learning with 'e's
DECEMBER 2, 2011
We have had pencils in our school now for some time, and we were one of the first to adopt them, but it has been an uphill struggle. There aren't enough to go around, and often several of the children have to crowd around to use the pencils at the same time. But we are better off than many schools. We have a well equipped pencil suite where the chained desktop pencils are used in special sessions, and often, as a reward for good behaviour children are allowed to come into the suite (under teache
The Learning Revolution Has Begun
JUNE 4, 2011
'Join me Thursday, June 9th, for a live and interactive Future of Education with Troy Hicks, co-author of Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments and author of The Digital Writing Workshop. We''ll talk about how to apply digital writing skills effectively in the classroom, since many students may be adept at text messaging and communicating online but do not know how to craft a basic essay.
The Daring Librarian
DECEMBER 29, 2011
'I''m usually not one for new year''s resolutions. If I decide to do something the calendar doesn''t matter & I''ve blown too many good resolutions to believe an arbitrary day will make a diff. BUT.there are a few things that are easily done & feels great for a SUPER GEEKY SAFE.errm Aware! New Year. (There is no *safe* on the Interwebs, only Aware!
A Principal's Reflections
NOVEMBER 27, 2011
'There has been a great deal of information lately on the World Wide Web and in the media on the flipped classroom approach. I still get the sense that many educators are unsure of what this actually means and entails. I myself have done quite a bit of research as of late to gain a better understanding. Image credit: [link] There are two main components associated with the flipped classroom approach to teaching and learning.
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The Web20Classroom
DECEMBER 6, 2011
'When it comes to mobile learning there are loads of great sites for apps for kids and teachers. Everything from apps organized by Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy to apps organized by grade level and subject area. But what you might not know, especially if you are an administrator is that there are some great apps out there for you. What are they? Well my administrator friend, here are my Top 9 Apps For Administrators (All of these are for iPad but you can find many, or an equivalent, in the Android Ma
The 21st Century Principal
SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
'Note: I posted a variation of this to my parents in my Parent Weekly Email Update. This version, I address more to educators and 21st century educational leaders. In her book Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats , Nancy Willard states, "Cyberbullying and cyberthreats are new concerns that have not been fully addres by the academic community." In fact, our students are receiving very little instruction from anybody regarding responsible online behavior and being an effective online citizen.
A Principal's Reflections
MARCH 13, 2011
'I came across a great video this morning that really does a nice job illustrating how teaching should be evolving to meet the needs of 21st Century Learners. Watching the video reinforced for me the direction that we are taking New Milford High School. The question now becomes are the pedagogical shifts described above taking hold in classrooms? If not, which I assume is the overwhelming answer, what has to be done?
A Principal's Reflections
APRIL 23, 2011
'As a result of being off the entire week for spring break I have had the opportunity to explore the many extensions available for Google Chrome. These free extensions not only optimize my Internet experience, but also provide a great deal of enhanced functionality to my work as an educator (especially as a blogger). I have begun to compile a short list of extensions that I am currently using.
Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions
There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.
A Principal's Reflections
AUGUST 31, 2011
'This morning I read a great article on PBS Media Shift by Audrey Watters entitled " Why Schools Should Stop Banning Cell Phones, and Use Them For Learning." Up until this past year the rule of thumb was that students could bring their phones to my school, but they could not be on, seen, or heard. This rule applied throughout the school day, on or at any school-sponsored functions, and was strictly enforced.
A Principal's Reflections
JULY 14, 2011
'Cross-posted at the Huffington Post: Effective Leadership in the Age of Reform. School improvement efforts rely heavily on quality leadership. Educational leaders are tasked with establishing a collective vision for school improvement and initiating change to spur innovation, ensure student learning, and increase achievement. On July 13 th I had the pleasure of hearing Dr.
A Principal's Reflections
MAY 11, 2011
'I came across this video that compares and contrasts pedagogical techniques, learning environments, student/teacher characteristics, and expectations associated with education during the past two centuries. What are your thoughts on the various points made in this video? How can we better meet the needs of learners and educators in the 21st Century?
A Principal's Reflections
DECEMBER 21, 2011
'Cross-posted at the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association. When principals hear the words Twitter and Facebook they cringe. Immediately, visions of excessive socialization, time wasted, and meaningless conversations in the form of updates come to mind. This is true, in many cases, when these tools are used for personal use. I am here to share ways in which principals can harness the power of these free resources to improve communications, public relations, professional growth, instruction,
Speaker: Amanda Davis, Chief Experience Officer and Liam O'Malley, VP of Association Solutions
The "new normal" is now a little less new, a little more normal. Does that mean your current LMS strategy is in need of a refresh? Is your organization or association leaning into the always-evolving eLearning environment to ensure you have the tools and content to remain relevant through all this change? There are many complex decision-making processes within your learning & development strategy and LMS lifecycle management, including: Selection.
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